First things first. The birth name of UAlbany point guard DJ Evans is Dantonio Jaleel. But, yes, it's a lot easier to just call him DJ. Surely, the public address announcer at SEFCU Arena is thankful for that. UAlbany coach Will Brown hopes that Evans' name gets called a lot this season.

Scoring, assists, steals. If Evans can make those things happen on a consistent basis, Brown will be one happy man. Evans will try to give the PA announcer a workout for the first time Tuesday night when the Great Danes play New Jersey Institute of Technology in the home opener.

The 5-foot-9 Evans inherited the point guard position after Mike Black, one of the best to ever play the position for the Danes, graduated in May. Brown said from the start of the season that Evans would get the first shot at showing he could run the Danes' offense.

Of course, one game does not make a season, but Evans did nothing to hurt himself in UAlbany's 74-62 win over Siena on Friday night at Times Union Center.

Evans scored 12 points with two assists and six steals to help the Danes topple their crosstown rival.

"I'm not surprised at how he played the other night," Brown said Monday afternoon. "I thought he rattled Siena's (freshman) point guard (Marquis Wright) at times with his pressure. He was good."

It's just that when he got to Albany, he had a roadblock called Mike Black in his way. Black was going to play the brunt of the minutes at point guard and he ended up being the Most Valuable Player in the America East Conference Tournament, where the Danes upset Vermont on the way to the NCAA Tournament.

Evans could only accept the minutes that he was given. He averaged 9.9 minutes per game, 2.4 points and had 17 assists in 33 games. When the Danes needed him, Evans stepped up. When Black injured himself in a game against Loyola (Md.) last November, Evans played 26 minutes and scored a then-career-high 10 points in a narrow loss.

"DJ has had a small sample size," Brown said. "Every time he was given a chance to play, he played well."

Evans knew he would have to wait until Black graduated before getting his turn. Now that it's here, he intends to take full advantage of it. He said he worked hard during the off-season. He concentrated on getting stronger in the weight room. He worked on his shot. He was prepared to do everything and anything to make himself a better player.

"I just want to go out and do whatever it takes to make the team better," Evans said. "I knew Mike was the point guard last year and I respected that. When my name was called, I just tried to take advantage of the opportunity."

In his first game as a senior, Evans recorded career highs in points, steals, field goals attempted (nine) and free throws made (seven) and attempted (eight).

"I just have to go out and do what I have to do," Evans said. "It helps knowing that you are going to play."